On 11 December 2025, Ms. Lada Phumas, Ambassador of Thailand to Malaysia, was invited to attend the Human Rights Day Forum 2025 under the theme “Protecting Our Future Generations: Human Rights for All” at the Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel & Convention Centre. The event was co-organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia, the Prime Minister’s Department of Malaysia, the United Nations Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam, and the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM). The opening ceremony was presided over by Dato’ Sri Azalina Binti Othman Said, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform). The forum welcomed approximately 400 participants, including members of the diplomatic corps in Malaysia, representatives from government agencies, the private sector, civil society, development partners, academia, and the media.
In her remarks, the Minister highlighted the progress of legal reforms under the MADANI Government, including the establishment of a special court for child-related cases and the advancement of a new Child Protection Bill, reaffirming the Government’s commitment to strengthening institutions that safeguard all children.
YBhg. Dato’ Seri Mohd Hishamudin Md. Yunus, Chairman of SUHAKAM, outlined Malaysia’s achievements in reforming laws and policies on children’s rights from 2019 – 2025. These include amendments to family laws related to child marriage, the establishment of the Children’s Commissioner, the passing of legislation to address bullying in schools, and new digital protection laws for children. He also called on all sectors to work together in strengthening an equitable child protection system.
On this occasion, the Ambassador met with YBhg. Datin Paduka Anizan Siti Hajjar Adnin, Deputy Secretary General (Management) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia, Mr. Robert Gass, UN Resident Coordinator ad interim Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam, and Ms. Sharon Ho, Undersecretary for Human Rights, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia. She congratulated the organizers on the successful convening of the Forum and commended the Malaysian Government’s significant progress in legal reforms, while reaffirming Thailand’s strong commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights.
Notably, 2025 marks the 30th anniversary of Malaysia’s ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in 1995, as well as the 15th anniversary of its ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in 2010.